Lighting Up a Room

I have often heard someone describe a person as “one who lights up a room when they enter.” The phrase is used to describe a person who everyone enjoys being around and with. The one who lights up a room brings a positive energy to those around him or her.

Colossians 4:5 says, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let you speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” We should make the best use of each encounter with another person. This requires that we display a powerful and attractive walk with Jesus as our visual testimony. It also requires that we speak in an interesting, stimulating, and wise way.

Pass It On

So many of the good things that we receive are meant to be passed onto others. When we receive good news, we immediately want to tell others about it. When we are cured from a disease and come across someone else who is similarly suffering, we want to tell them of our experience. When someone gives us good advice, we want to share it with others. God’s blessings to us are meant to be similarly shared.

James 2:13 says, “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” The one who has received great mercy from God, will be full of mercy and compassion for others. Those who are forgiven, forgive others for the offenses made against them.

What Is Important?

This morning, as I walked, a young woman came up to me to ask a question. I was wearing a t-shirt that had the message, “WalkIN 4 Jesus” stenciled on the back. She saw that and asked me, “If you had one thing to say to me about God, what would it be?” I said, “love God with your whole heart.” I don’t know if that was the right thing to say to her in that moment, but it expresses the heart of the gospel. We love God, because He first loved us and gave His Son for us.

Philippians 1:8 says, “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Paul expresses his affection for the people of the Philippian church, but also declares that God has affection for us. God loves us and has feelings of fondness, care and tenderness toward us. His affection is confirmed in displays of kindness and grace toward us. When one is truly loved, the heart can express love in return.

Mighty Hand

Perhaps, you have seen arm wrestling and tug a rope competitions. I am always amazed at the strength involved in this events. I wonder why nothing ever breaks during these struggles. The people involved have likely trained and gained the strength to protect themselves. My wife often asks me to open containers for her as her hand strength has given way to arthritis. I am not sure how much longer I will be able to do this for her, as my hand strength is diminishing also. The mighty hand of God will never lose strength and is able to hold His children securely for all eternity.

John 10:27-29 says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” Once we come to Jesus trusting Him as Savior and Lord, we are His forever. Nothing and no one can take us away from the Son of God and the Father. We just hear God’s voice and follow Him.

Holding Water

Fill a 16 ounce cup with water. Now hold it in your right hand, with your arm straight forward from your body. Holding the cup in this position for a few moments is easy for most of us. If we try to hold it in this position for an hour, our arm and hand begin to waiver and pain starts to seep into our body. If we tried to hold the cup for a full 24 hours, the pain would be supreme and holding the glass would be all that we could think about. We can relieve the pain and suffering by simply putting the glass down. The same is true of the problems that we face. As long as we hold onto the problems, we can’t think or do anything else. But if we release the problems to our God, the pain and the load is lifted, and God can build His character into our lives.

II Corinthians 4:16-17 says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” It is undeniable that we will face troubles and struggles. These problems stay with us only a short while. At the same time they are building us up into Christ likeness and preparing us for the glory that will be ours in eternity.